ISRAEL AND THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH

1. ISRAEL AND THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH Dr. Robert C. Kurka Professor of Theology and Church in Culture Lincoln Christian University Bradley University Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Winter 2016

2. Course Description and Outline • This four-session course will identify major theological, historical and socio-political issues that have framed the Christian Church’s relationship to Judaism and ancient/modern-day Israel through the centuries. It also will attempt to offer some constructive suggestions on promoting Jewish-Christian dialogue in our contemporary, conflicted world. • Four Lectures/Discussions: 1. “‘Salvation is from the Jews’: The Debt that Christianity Owes Israel” 2. “How Does the Church View Ancient/Modern-day Israel? A Brief Survey of Historical and Contemporary Options” 3. “How Has the Church Treated the Jewish People?: Some Shameful—and Saintly Examples” 4. “Towards a Healthy Jewish-Christian Dialogue: Critically Affirming Points of Similarity and Difference”

3. In the discipline of Systematic Theology, this discussion is generally located under Ecclesiology • Ecclesiology is an area of the discipline of Systematic Theology that is concerned with the origin, nature, function, and structure of the CHURCH. While the relationship between Israel and the Church is seen as a “sub-topic” in theological circles, it has been a major point of dispute among Christians throughout the centuries since it affects other key Christian beliefs about salvation and the future (eschatology). It also has contributed to an indefensible Anti-Semitism in the past as well as an uncritical “Zionism” on the part of some Christians in the present-day.

4. and the complexity of the matter grows… • While Christians have traditionally viewed Jewish people as candidates for evangelism, Moreover, in December, 2015, the Vatican issued the following: “The Church is obliged to view evangelization to Jews, who believe in the one God, in a different manner from that to people of other religions and worldviews…In concrete terms this means that the Catholic Church neither conducts nor supports any specific mission work directed towards Jews.” --The Gifts and the Calling of God Are Irrevocable

5. Lecture #1: “‘Salvation is from the Jews’: The Debt that Christianity Owes Israel” “You Samaritans worship what you do not know, for salvation is from the Jews.”—Jesus (John 4:22) From its inception, Christianity has called attention to its Jewish roots… “For I could wish that I myself were cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race, the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs is the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of theMessiah, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.” –Paul (Romans 9:3-5; NIV]

6. The Christian New Testament’s “Debt” to the Jewish Old Testament In over 220 direct citations of the Old Testament (not to mention numerous paraphrases, allusions and “echoes”), the New Testament writers ground the Church in… • Israel’s ancient history (creation, fall, calling of Abraham)—Rom. 4-5 • Israel’s “unique” monotheism—1 Cor. 8:4-6 • Israel’s “spiritual” defeats—1 Cor. 10:1-13 (Heb. 3-4) • Israel’s Messianic hopes –Mark 8:29 • Israel’s salvation—in Christ –Luke 2:29-32 • “Last Days”—Acts 2:17-21 (cf. Joel 2:28-24) • Israel’s future restoration—Acts 15:15-18 (cf. Amos 11:12) • Israel’s ethical mandates –Jas.1:26-28 In the NT’s presentation of Jesus Christ (reflecting his own self-consciousness), he is clearly not the dismantler of God’s covenantal promises with Israel but the one who brings them all to completion— “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ” (2 Cor. 1:20)

7. Matthew’s Nativity Story….guiding Gentile magi to Bethlehem by the Jewish Scriptures • When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?”…When he (Herod) called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” --Matt. 2:1,2,4-6 [NIV] (citing Micah 5:2-4)

8. Notre Dame Historian Mark Noll summarizes this indebtedness by calling attention to the concept of TRUTH • Early Church adopted Israel’s belief that there is Truth …and this Truth is located in the One, Personal God who makes himself known through REVELATION (general and special) • Early Church adopted Israel’s belief that Truth (special revelation) is coherent and understandable because this God communicated in “ordinary” human language (and it could be read and studied) • Early Church adopted Israel’s belief that Truth can be put into action—from the Jewish Temple rituals and (later) synagogue instruction to Christianity’s organization around local churches and pastoral teaching Source: Turning Points, 3rd ed., 18

9. Jewish-Christian Perception of Late First Century Rome… • Sulpicius Severusobserves that the Roman emperor, Titus, desired to destroy the Jerusalem Temple: “…in order that that the Jewish and Christian religions might more completely be abolished; for although these religions were mutually hostile; they had nevertheless sprung from the same founders; the Christians were the offshoot of the Jews, and if the root were taken from the stock would easily perish.” (Quoted in F.F. Bruce, The Spreading Flame, 156) • W.H. C. Frend: “All Christianity at this stage [in the apostolic period] was ‘Jewish Christianity.’ But it was Israel with a difference.” (The Rise of Christianity, 123)

10. Lecture Two:“How Does the Church View Ancient and Modern-day Israel? A Survey of Contemporary Options” • While virtually all Christian traditions assign Christ as the culmination of the Old Testament story (not to mention the focus of the New), there are considerable differences in assessing the precise relationship of Israel and the Christian Church in the Scriptures. Four major viewpoints have been prevalent during Christianity’s 2000-year history which in turn, have contributed to attitudes/actions that have been grievous and gracious.

11. Covenant Model

12. Classic Dispensationalism

13. Progressive Dispensational Model

14. Progressive Covenantal Model

15. Four Views: Comparison and Contrast

16. Several Questions to consider for our final lectures… • What view(s) best represents the New Testament’s attitude towards Judaism? Why? • What view(s) would tend to define “Israel” in a religious or spiritual sense? Why? What view(s) would tend to define Israel in ethnic terms? Why? • What view(s) is most conducive to anti-Semitism? Why? • What view(s) is most conducive to contemporary Zionism? Why? • What view(s) is most conducive to Christian evangelism of the Jewish people? Why? • What view(s) is most conducive to Christian dialogue with the Jewish people? Why?